Funeral Services, bereavement and end-of-life care in our Churches
A funeral is used to mark the end of a person’s life here on earth. Family and friends come together to express grief, give thanks for the life lived and commend the person into God’s keeping. These can be a small, quiet ceremony or a large occasion in a packed church. We always spend time with families to ensure that their funeral services are carefully prepared and sensitively led.
Everyone is entitled to either a burial service (funeral) or to have their ashes buried in their local parish churchyard by their local parish priest regardless of whether they attended church or not.
We work in close collaboration with our local funeral directors on these occasions, and also offer you the opportunity to pre-plan your service with us or to discuss any aspect of our funeral ministry. Please contact us if you have any questions about funeral services or burials in our churches.
Planning ahead
Increasingly people are pre-planning funerals and thinking about what form they would like their funeral service to take. Our clergy and ministers have great experience in leading funeral services of all kinds, in all sorts of family situations, and would be very happy to meet with you to talk over your thoughts and ideas, to help you in your preparations. Please contact us if you would like a conversation of this sort.
You might also find the Dying Matters website useful. Dying Matters is a coalition of 30,000 members across England and Wales which aims to help people talk more openly about dying, death and bereavement, and to make plans for the end of life.
Ongoing care and support for the bereaved is an important part of our ministry. Our churches are welcoming places for people who have lost loved ones and are seeking comfort, friendship and direction. Each year on All Souls Day (at the beginning of November) we hold a special service called The Commemoration of the Faithful Departed. This is a special opportunity to remember our loved ones who have passed away. Names of those we remember are read out during the service, and prayers said.
Further information and resources
The Church of England Funerals website is an invaluable source of detailed information on funerals and planning a funeral service. Its pages include:
Please also see here for a selection of comforting psalms and prayers.
Memorial Stones
Please see our Churchyard Enquiries page for information regarding the installation and maintenance of memorial stones, genealogy enquiries, etc.
